June 28, 2013

The 2nd Annual Harley Davidson Giveaway Kickoff & All-American BBQ will be held at the Olde Fish House Marina in Matlacha next month.

Tina Bush, a member of the Matlacha Bridge Reef Project, said the event is being held to celebrate the success of the project.

"We are so proud of this community for their support of the Matlacha Bridge Reef and the success of the project to preserve a piece of history in a beautiful and useful way underwater," she said.

Article Photos

Photo provided This underwater photo shows section of the old Matlacha Bridge located on the reef.

The event will be held from 2-6 p.m., Sunday, July 7. The band, Blackwater, will perform its rockin' country music all afternoon and Earl will be smokin' and grillin' as the cold beer flows.

"The event will start with a parade of motorcycles honoring our vets, and as they ride into the Fish House at 2 p.m. our flag will be honored as well as flags from each branch of service," she said.

A watermelon eating contest will be held, as well as giveaways.

Fact Box

If You Go

What: 2nd Annual Harley

Davidson Giveaway Kickoff

& All-American BBQ

Who: Matlacha Bridge Reef

Project

When: Sunday, July 7, from 2-6

p.m.

Where: Olde Fish House Marina

Information: Call the Matlacha

Bridge Reef Project at

239-244-4434 or stop by

Island Floors

"This is the official kick-off of the Harley Davidson raffle, the first chance to buy raffle tickets for a chance to win the custom 2013 Harley Davidson Sportster XL 1200 on Oct. 6," she said.

Individuals must stop by the Olde Fish House Marina to purchase one of the limited number of raffle tickets that will be available. Tickets are $25 for one or $100 for five.

Bush said they want to continue the momentum of promoting ongoing artificial reef education and development in Lee County.

"We are working to design and display a granite memorial on land of the Matlacha Bridge Reef that shows the coordinates of the new reef and honors our old bridge," she said. "Plans will be announced as the progress over the next few months."

The coordinates for the Matlacha Bridge Reef, which is comprised of 32 pieces of the old bridge, are (latitude) 26 48.485N and (longitude) 82 19.602W. The reef is approximately 200 feet in length in 30 feet of water.

Bush said dives down to the reef site will also be planned to promote the old Matlacha Bridge, as well as Pine Island.

Announcements, as well as updates, will be provided by the Matlacha Bridge Reef Project each month, with the first taking place at the July 7 event.

"It was amazing last year when we raffled off the Harley, and now we are thrilled to announce that we will do it again," Bush said.